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"He's never going to stop, is he?" said one audience member as Elvis Costello embarked on his 26th song. The 61-year-old loves to rail against the capacity of the powerful to screw over the proles, and he certainly gave us mortals our money's worth during this mammoth, mainly solo set of classics, curios and covers. Such was the volume of material, it was perhaps inevitable that not every song was a zinger.
There were half a dozen too many lo-fi guitar rants and wry-yet-passionate piano ballads. And, while Costello's strangulated drawl remains one of the most distinctive voices in pop, it wore thin over two hours plus, especially on "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down," where he over-emoted like the kind of X Factor wannabe whom he probably disdains. The faithful were rapt throughout, but for the casual fan it was rather gruelling at times.
The last time I saw Costello he was backed by the American rap-soul band the Roots and, as charismatic a performer as he is, he benefits from bouncing off others. When, towards the end of this show, he was joined by the sister duo Larkin Poe there was a noticeable surge in energy.
His high points were superb: a growling, punky "Pump It Up"; a version of "London's Brilliant Parade" that was full of poignant psychogeography; and "She," on which his voice became a gentle, heartbreaking lilt. There were twinkly anecdotes too as he recalled his musician father playing on the same bill as the Beatles for their "rattle your jewellery" show and the modest delights of his first tour where the hotel offered "shortbread fingers wrapped in cellophane — enough to turn a man's head."
An admirable show, then, but one that could have been trimmed by half an hour. Costello finished, as he always does, with a unifying rendition of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." Hard to argue with that list — although he could maybe add "brevity."
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